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JOUBNAL OF HOKTICUIiTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 29, 1875. 



root rapidly and to do well than if put in later. This is a 

 matter of much intoreat, and if my views are rightl think it will 

 he found that Bosee ou their own roots may be raised with more 

 ease and certainty than is generally supposed. — Philanthes. 



^[KOYAL HOETICDLTUBAIi SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



JULT 21ST. 



One or two points of interest at the grand Exhibition so well 

 described in last week's Journal deserve notice. It is not pos- 

 sible when an exhibition is so extensive to describe anything 

 minutely, and I now add a few remarks on the fine show of 

 Carnations and Picotees. 



There is a National Carnation and Picotee Society located in 

 the midland counties, but a Midland Counties Society would be 

 a better name for it, as it cannot touch the soutb, as our blooms 

 will be quite over before their Show is held. The third week 

 in July is a safe date for London, and ou that week the Royal 

 Horticultural and Metropolitan Floral Societies offered prizes 

 — not prizes sufliciently large to bring growers from a loug dis- 

 tance, nor were there many classes, but Mr. Turner sent a large 

 number of stands fcr exhibition, and there was some competition 

 in all the classes. It would be a grand day for the florists when 

 the Society offers the same amount for a stand of twenty-four 

 distinct Carnations as it does for a collection of fruit and twelve 

 stove and greenhouse plants. Modern gardeners would laugh 

 at the bare idea of such a thing, but this was done thirty years 

 or more ago, and Mr. .James Hogg of Paddington obtained the 

 gold Banksian medal for his Carnations and Picotees at one of 

 the Chiewick exhibitions. 



Some of the flowers at the recent Show were very fine, and 

 the new varieties have proved again to be a decided advance on 

 some of the old sorts. Beginuiog with Carnations. Scarlet 

 Bizarres. — The new sorts. Guardsman (Turner), Mars (Hextall), 

 and Mercury (Hextall), will hold the highest position in their 

 classes for many years at our present rate of progress. Crimson 

 Bizarres. — Isaac Wilkinson (Turner), and Marshal Ney (Headly), 

 are the leading new flowers. In Purple Flukes Ajax (Hextall), 

 is superb, and is decidedly the best in its class. Scarlet Flakes. 

 — This is a showy class and already contains good flowers, but 

 all of them are wanting in fullness ; however, Mr. Battersby 

 (Gibbons) and Superb (Ingram) are indispensable. Base Flakes. 

 — This is a charming class, and contains some of the finest Car- 

 nations in existence. Mrs. F. Burnaby (Turner), is a charming 

 flower, very distinct in its colour ; it is of the softest pal« rose, 

 large, and fuU. Phcebus (Headly), is also very good; it has 

 bright rose markings. 



Turn we now to the Picotees. Bed-edged comes first. Leo- 

 nora (Fellows), is a distinct heavy edge. Mrs. Keynes (Fellows), 

 a very fine medium-edge with a pure white ground ; and Princess 

 of Wales (Fellows), is certainly by far the best heavy red-edge 

 in existence, and a mcst distinct, flower. In Purple-edges we 

 have a splendid flower in Mrs. Little (Hooper), certainly the 

 finest light-edge ever raised ; the white is of tbe purest, without 

 spot or bar. In the Bose and Scarlet-edged class we have some 

 great advances. Ethel (Fellows), large, pure, smooth, and full; 

 extra fine. Juliana (Turner), is a very fine heavy scarlet-edge, 

 not BO large as Obadiah, but it has a better petal. Mrs. AUcroft 

 (Turner), this is the best light-edged flower we have — not a bar 

 or spot to be found on its pure white ground. Mrs. Fordham 

 (Turner), this as it bloomed with me tbia year is a splendid 

 flower ; it is a medium-edge, very full, and the petals like leather. 

 The three last-named flowers are great advances and highly 

 creditable to the raiser. 



It is a great pity that Mr. Norman has given up the culture of 

 these flowers ; and Mr. Pizzy, who also held a high position, 

 has also left tbe field through removing to another situation. Let 

 us hope their places will be supplied by other ardent cultivators. 

 Mr. E. Atkins is a new exhibitor and showed some fine flowers. 



I have extended my notes on this favourite old flower longer 

 than I intended, but have still space for a few remarks about 

 the Floral Committee. No wonder if some mistakes are occa- 

 sionally found in the reports of this body. Up till nearly three 

 o'clock only numbers were to be found on the largest proportion 

 of the exbibita, a/id about two one large exhibitor was busy 

 removing hin plants somewhere else, and amongst them some 

 that received first-class certificates. It is necessary both for 

 the sake of the public and the exhibitors that a correct report 

 should be given of all new plants and flowers, but as matters 

 are arrangeel at present it is almost impossible to do so. The 

 system of placing numbers instead of the name of the exhibitor 

 on new plants is decidedly objectionable and can answer no 

 good purpose whatever ; and no plants ought to be removed 

 until after the general meeting at 3 p.m. 



I noticed a very fine new zonal Pelargonium of the Bronze 

 class that has not been exhibited before. It is certainly a great 

 advance on any in its class. It was in the collection of Mr. 

 .John Laing, Stanstead Park, Forest Hill. It is named The 

 Czar. The leaves are smooth and of great substance ; they have 

 a distinct margin of greenish yellow, next a broad band of a 



bright chocolate colour and a greenish-yellow centre : it is most 

 effective. Of a different type is Mrs. Harrison Weir, more in 

 the way of Impuratrice Eugenie, but a much finer variety. The 

 leaves are smooth edged with yellow, with a distiuct reddish 

 band; centre yellow. Both these plants are great advances, but 

 I was told the Floral Committee would not grant certificates for 

 them. They were not entered at this meeting because of that. 



I may just notice a very fine Phlox Drummondii, which I 

 found out afterwards was sent by Mr. R. Dean of Ealing. This 

 was certainly also an advance on any I have yet seen of this 

 flower. The old General Radetzky with its beautifully striped 

 flowers was long a favourite, and this new one is a fine com- 

 panion to it ; but it also was passed. 



When Orchids are exhibited, if they have any beauty at all 

 they generally come in for high honours ; but I fancy that the 

 more humble flowers — even a Phlox Drummondii or even a 

 Forget-me-not, if it is an advance on anything that has been 

 previously raised, should be rewarded with a first-class mark — 

 that is, when its merits are fully proved. — J. Douglas. 



CITY OF LONDON FLOWER SHOW. 

 To encourage a love of flowers and to stimulate their culture 

 in the closely-pent homes of the city it was determiued some 

 few years ago to offer prizes, and have a real flower show in the 

 city, by the city, and for the city. It was a laudable idea, and 

 has been well carried out. The sixth Exhibition was held in 

 the grounds of Finsbury Circus on the 27th inst., and resulted 

 in an interesting collection of window plants and a large amount 

 of patronage. The Show was divided into twenty-five classes of 

 popular window plants, as Muek, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Myrtles, 

 Campanulas, Orange trees. Ferns, Creeping .Tenny (Lysimachia), 

 &c., also window boxes, and in all the classes there was con- 

 siderable competition. We observed plants exhibited by little 

 children and hale septuagenarians. Amongst the miscellaneous 

 plants were Wheat, Oak growing from acorn. Tobacco, and a 

 precious Orange plant, marked as growing from a pip sown two 

 months ago, only unfortunately the owner is cherishing some- 

 thing else, for her pet is not an Orange. It is gratifying to find 

 all the plants so clean, and it is clear that pains have been 

 bestowed by the several growers, who richly deserve the liberal 

 prizes. Special prizes were also given — viz., a silver medal by 

 the Royal Horticultural Society for the best plant in the Show, 

 and three bronze medals. The silver medal was taken by G. 

 Moss with a very healthy Indiarubber plant, the bronze medak 

 going to Ferns and Lycopods, which were very nicely shown. 

 Mr. Smee, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wills, &c., also offered prizes. 

 Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, contributed excellent boxes of cut 

 Koses in splendid colour. Sultan of Zanzibar and Duke of Con- 

 nanght being particularly brilliant ; and very fine single plants 

 of Lilium auratum ; and Mr. W. Paul, Waltham Cross, sent 

 beautiful Roses and a bright collection of Zonal Pelargoniums. 

 Mr. Peacock, Hammersmith, also staged a collection of his 

 grotesque Cacti, &:c. These aids constituted a valuable feature 

 to the Show, and the contributors will feel a reward in the 

 treat they have afforded, and the appreciation of their goodwill 

 in encouraging a thoroughly deserving organisation. The Revs. 

 W. Rodgers, F. Bishop, and a working Committee, with Mr. B. 

 Dean as manager, conducted the arrangements, and Mr. Barron 

 and Mr. Dean were the Judges. The day was fine, and the 

 Exhibition was in all respects as successful as it was worthy of 

 success. 



ROSE SHOW IN NEWTON STEWART, 



WIGTOWNSHIRE. 



Newton-Stewabt, and through it the surrounding districts, 

 were treated to a novelty on the 19th. Never before had it a 

 Rose Show. When the Rev. G. W. R. Mackenzie of All Saints' 

 mooted the idea of holding such an exhibition to a few friends 

 a month or two ago he was metaphorically frowned upon. It 

 could never be got up — the country was too unkind to produce 

 suifioient Roses to make up a creditable display — it would 

 interfere with the annual Flower Show a month later — it would, 

 in short, never do. But Mr Mackenzie determined to try; 

 and as a preliminary step set about canvassing his friends and 

 acquaintances, and non-acquaintances, for the necessary money, 

 until he was astonished at his own success. A schedule of 

 prizes was thereafter prepared ; and the handsome sums promised 

 therein to successful competitors drew forth hearty support. 

 Messrs. Dickson & Sons of Newtonards, county Down — perhaps 

 the largest Rose growers in Ireland — promised blooms ; Mr. 

 R. B. Cant of Colchester, a great grower, also said he would com- 

 pete and exhibit, though the boisterous weather of the early 

 part of the week caused him to telegraph on Thursday that it 

 would be impossible for him to do so ; and nearly all the gar- 

 deners attached to the mansion hounea in Wigtownshire, and a 

 few in the Stewartry, entered heartily into the project. The 

 local amateurs and cottagers also determined to do their little 

 best ; and altogether such promises of competition and ex- 



